Master's Professional Reports Abstract

Employment First Children Second: Subsidized Child Care Policy in Texas

This report examines the government role in subsidizing child care for poor
families. The report reviews the development of federal and state policy
with regard to child care, and explores the evolution of competing child
care policy goals. The report begins with an exploration of why child care
has become a national issue. It describes the current framework of federal
child care subsidy programs, and presents policy choices that states must
make in implementing child care subsidy programs. The report discusses
competing goals of child care policy, and addresses how government should
allocate scarce government child care funds among poor families. The
report specifically reviews Texas subsidized child care policy, namely the
Child Care Management System implemented by Texas in 1991.